1. A physical geography: This canyon is the most stable of all three, as the vegetation cover is better established. There are small shrubs and grasses growing on the sides of the ridges; algae is also widely visible, covering the sand all the way to the foot of the canyon. Owing to the support and anchorage of the root system, the canyon is relatively firm, and we were able to climb up the ridges, unlike the other ones, which collapsed with minimal stress. This canyon may have eroded at a slower rate as compared to the other canyons. On the day when we visited the canyon it had been raining, and we could clearly see the fresh deposition of sediments. However, in this particular location, it was far less pronounced and lacked the streams that we found on the beds of the other canyons.
2. Soil Characteristics:
Color: Very pale brown
Texture: Sandy loam
Soil moisture content: 3.6%
pH: 6.3
3. GPS points: 32*04'12.01"N 84*54'39.08"W
Side wall erosion on canyon two is widely visible in the picture below.
In the picture below you can see the fine line in the yellow regolith sitting below the compacted sandy illuvialated layer. This sandy layer is highly compacted and gives the illusion of sandstone. However this layer is brittle and soft in structure.
QUESTION: "Why is it that this particular canyon has eroded more slowly? As a result, what differences do we see in the characteristics of the soil here?
Stop 2 - Canyon Two
1. A physical geography: This canyon is the most stable of all three, as the vegetation cover is better established. There are small shrubs and grasses growing on the sides of the ridges; algae is also widely visible, covering the sand all the way to the foot of the canyon. Owing to the support and anchorage of the root system, the canyon is relatively firm, and we were able to climb up the ridges, unlike the other ones, which collapsed with minimal stress. This canyon may have eroded at a slower rate as compared to the other canyons. On the day when we visited the canyon it had been raining, and we could clearly see the fresh deposition of sediments. However, in this particular location, it was far less pronounced and lacked the streams that we found on the beds of the other canyons.
2. Soil Characteristics:
3. GPS points: 32*04'12.01"N 84*54'39.08"W
In the picture below you can see the fine line in the yellow regolith sitting below the compacted sandy illuvialated layer. This sandy layer is highly compacted and gives the illusion of sandstone. However this layer is brittle and soft in structure.
QUESTION: "Why is it that this particular canyon has eroded more slowly? As a result, what differences do we see in the characteristics of the soil here?
Next Stop: Canyon Three
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